Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects thousands of state and local police officers, armed service men and women and civilians of every description. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening event. PTSD can stem from military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. The majority of people who experience or witness a life threatening event will return to normal given a little time. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. PTSD is complicated by the fact that people with PTSD often may develop additional disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a process by which language is used to reframe, reroute and redesign our memories, understanding and feelings about experience. Based upon strategies for modeling human excellence NLP is a program designed to use language to interrupt and recreate neural pathways in the brain to optimize human functioning. When something reminds us of trauma the brain immediately searches inside itself for associations and then represents back to you what it finds in the way of mental pictures and emotions.
NLP is used to identify the structure of the problem as well as the process that the client must practice in order to maintain the problem. Due to the fact that the issues reside in the client’s mind, it is difficult for the client to escape the issues. For example, if a veteran is experiencing a flashback from an event, including nightmares, s/he is reliving the traumatic event, even though it is a past memory. By utilizing the NLP techniques, the client is able to neutralize the trauma without having to re-experience it.
Tune in to this segment of The NLP View Radio Show, as host, Donna Blinston is joined by expert, Dr. Richard Gray to discuss his research on NLP as it pertains to PTSD, on November 10, 2012 at 7pm EDT/4pmPST!